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Bofill Taller de Arquitectura Completes Emerald Auditorium at Rabat University

Rabat, Morocco — Bofill Taller de Arquitectura, the acclaimed firm founded by the late Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill, has unveiled the striking new Centre de Congrès at Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique (UM6P) in Rabat. Marking a key milestone in the university’s long-term campus master plan, the building is defined by its massive stone forms and a surreal, fully green auditorium that challenges conventional academic design.

Completed in Fall 2024, the project signals a bold architectural language, combining monumentality with immersive color and playful geometries. According to the firm, the space was conceived as “a dynamic, generous space for a rich combination of people and activities.”

A Monumental Exterior, A Vibrant Core

From the outside, the Centre de Congrès presents a powerful, almost monolithic presence—its massive stone walls and beige-tiled perimeter grounded in a timeless materiality. Yet behind its solemn exterior lies an unexpected visual surprise: a glowing emerald auditorium, saturated in rich green hues from ceiling to floor.

The design strategy focuses on simple geometries — squares and circles — animated through deconstructed curvilinear volumes. These forms envelop the square-shaped main auditorium, culminating in a dramatic ceiling halo of light, reinforcing the surreal atmosphere within.

Every element of the interior—from carpet to wall coverings to leather seating—is rendered in a deep, unified green, offering an intense chromatic contrast to the beige and stone tones outside. The result is an immersive, theatrical interior unlike anything else on a modern university campus.

Multi-Use Functions and Fluid Campus Connections

More than an architectural icon, the building is designed to function as a multi-use hub for the UM6P community. It includes not only the central auditorium but also smaller lecture halls, conference rooms, cafés, and public spaces designed for both academic and cultural events.

Strategically sited at the intersection of two campus “arms,” the Centre de Congrès acts as a connector as much as a destination. The concept of passage is emphasized through massive porticos and tiled pathways that extend directly from the plaza into the building, blurring the line between exterior and interior space.

A Living Tribute to Ricardo Bofill’s Legacy

As one of the final projects to emerge from Ricardo Bofill’s atelier, the building reflects the late architect’s lifelong fascination with monumental form, geometric interplay, and spatial drama.

While distinctly contemporary in its use of bold color and minimalist structure, the Centre de Congrès also carries the DNA of Bofill’s early work — fusing rational planning with expressive volume.

Now complete, the Rabat auditorium represents a new landmark for Moroccan institutional architecture and a testament to the lasting impact of Bofill’s design vision.